THE CHILDREN OF PERISTA

In the year 1888, three men of spirit, John Nicholas-Hatzinikolaou, George Andreopoulos and Athanasios Tarkazikis left Perista, Greece and made their way to the eastern shores of the United States of America.
They walked away from their small, isolated village perched on the side of the mountain leaving all that they loved and all that they knew behind.
Upon arriving in America, they found themselves transplanted from a rural to an urban environment that was totally unfamiliar and often hostile.
Even though they had no skills, no knowledge of English and very little money, they prevailed in their new country and succeeded in establishing the foundation on which their descendents multiplied and thrived.

In the hundred years that have passed, the original pioneers and the countless others who followed distinguished themselves by their industriousness and resilience. In the beginning, many earned a meager living as flower peddlers in the streets of New York. With the passing years, a significant number emerged as accomplished businessmen with noteworthy financial success in the floral industry. Whatever their financial accomplishments, they never forgot their responsibility to those they had left behind. A strong sense of family still prevails in their descendents today.
We can never know the fears and doubts of John Nicholas-Hatzinikolaou, George Andreopoulos and Athanasios Tarkazikis when they began their arduous new life in America. We do know that their courage helped to clear the way for all that followed. Their descendents survived and eventually prospered in business and the professions. We salute the pioneers of Perista and gratefully acknowledge our debt to them.

By Dr. Helen Hanges Principal, P.S. 17 Queens